TNAG-0832-FCO40-1040-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1979 — Page 73

Paper No:

WIZA

BRITISH POLICY TOWARDS THE OTHER DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

1 Since 1945, when the UN Charter formally acknowledged the

•

right of colonial peoples to self-determination, successive British

Governments have given every help and encouragement to Dependent

Territories wishing to become independent. To this end, we are

committed to the creation of competent political and economic

institutions in our dependencies.

At the same time it has been a

consistent part of our policy that no Territory should be forced

into independence against the will of its population.

2. There are now 15 remaining British Dependent Territories,

and three Associated States for whose external relations and defence

we remain responsible. Separate papers have been prepared on

Hong Kong, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and Belize. Two

Territories, the British Indian Ocean Territory and British Antarctic

Territory, have no permanent populations, and the question of

independence does not therefore arise.

3. In the Pacific, the remaining Territories are Pitcairn (for which

independence can never be a realistic option since the population is

only 61) and the Gilbert Islands which are due or independence under

the name of Kiribati (pronounced Kiribass) on 12 July 1979. For this

purpose, high priority will need to be given to obtaining Parliamentary

approval for the independence bill. The inclusion of Ocean Island

(Banaba) in the territory has aroused strong opposition among members

of all political parties sympathetic to the Banaban cause.

The

4. We and the French are partners in the Condominium of the

New Hebrides which we plan to bring to independence in 1980.

internal political situation is highly complicated; a quasi-consti-

tutional conference, at ministerial level, is planned to take place

/in